£44m East Ren plan gets the green light

John MacInnes

East Renfrewshire Council’s City Deal project worth an estimated £44 million has been given the go ahead. The plan was approved by councillors on Tuesday this week.

Council officials have indicated that work on the blueprint are set to start within weeks.

The programme is the first City Deal scheme to be approved in Scotland.

The City Deal Cabinet - made up of the eight councils in the City Deal area (East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire) - backed the proposals to proceed without delay.

The plans include: Creating a destination wakepark centre at Dams to Darnley Country Park offering wakeboarding, the fastest-growing sport in the world. There are only a few other places to practice the sport in Scotland.

Open water swimming, triathlon events and canoeing are further options being looked at with the centre scheduled to open in 2017.

There are also plans for a visitor centre, boardwalk and an education and ranger base with indoor and outdoor classrooms.

The council is also looking to attract accommodation and leisure developments to be part of this area.

There will be a new train station at Barrhead South and improved access across East Renfrewshire.

The area is set to see 1,000 houses built and it will be one of East Ren’s major growth areas. These new communities will have cycle paths and walkways connecting the new homes with the enhanced park.

Council leader Jim Fletcher, the council’s representative on the City Deal Cabinet said: “This is a fantastic and bold vision for East Renfrewshire and I’m delighted we’re now ready to go ahead.

“This major investment will ensure East Renfrewshire continues to be one of the most desirable areas in Scotland to live, work and do business.